#carly pope | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

daydreamgoddess14 · 9 months

Text

Not a Couple (no, really!)

For day 3 of the Tedbecca Prompt Party 🥳

5 times someone mistakes Ted and Rebecca for a couple and the one time someone didn’t believe that they actually are...

Using prompts No. 29: 5 times someone mistakes Ted and Rebecca for a couple, and No. 17: Rebecca is Ted’s emergency contact.

Ted Lasso/Rebecca Welton fluffy fluff.

~~~~~

Ted brought another round back from the bar, Rebecca still had her head down frantically scribbling down the information Beard was giving her.

“No, you’re wrong - it was Man City in 2017-18. Chelsea was the year before, it was the start of the big City dominance.”

“I’m telling you, Rebecca, it was Chelsea in 2017.”

“No it wasn’t Beard. Trust me!” Beard looked at Ted with pleading eyes.

“Ted -”

“Beard. I love you, man, but I’m gonna defer to the woman who lived in the UK at the time and who had personal involvement in soccer at the time.”

“Football.”

“Right, boss. Football.” Rebecca wrote down Man City for her remaining answers - name the Premier League champions every year from 2012-3 season to 2022-3 season. Rebecca chose not to gloat when she was proven correct. When Beard went to the bar next, Rebecca and Ted poured over the picture round, heads bowed together whispering.

“Weheeey!”

“Wanker, you did it at last!” They looked up to see Baz, Paul and Jeremy with big smiles and pints in hand.

“Whatcha talkin’ bout fellas?”

“You and the boss! Lookin’ goooood!” Baz shot Rebecca with a finger gun and a wink.

“Oh, no no, we ain’t-”

“It’s about time, innit lads?” Jeremy grinned.

“Yeah, took ya long enough!”

“Boys, you’re mistaken, we’re-”

“Ohhh! Haven’t had the chat yet?” Paul asked and turned to the others, “they haven’t had the chat yet, idiots!”

“Oh shit. Sorry, Ted.”

“Sorry Ms Welton, sorry Ted.” Jeremy and Baz both looked mildly ashamed. “But still, nice one! You wanna have the chat though before she finds someone, y’know, fitter.”

“Well thanks for that, Benjamin Bratt. But when Rebecca tells you you’re mistaken, she means we ain’t dating at all. Just friends here, like that Ryan Reynolds classic.”

“What?”

“Huhh?”

“For real? Cos… I mean, they definitely ended up together in that movie.”

“No no, I don’t think they did. Clues in the title boys.” Ted said firmly.

“They did, I’m sure they did,” Baz whipped out his phone, “I’ll google it, to find out for sure.” Rebecca rolled her eyes, amused rather than offended by their insistence. “Yep, see - definitely did. Oh! Maybe that’ll happen to you two!” Baz looked as though he’d just seen the light.

“Yeah!” Jeremy agreed.

“You’re right matey, that’s it! They just don’t even know it yet.” Paul turned back to Ted and Rebecca, “you just don’t even know it yet!”

“Great chat, boys. Think we’d better get on with the quiz.” Ted insisted, gesturing at their answer sheet.

“Oh yeah, c’mon, let’s finish our picture round. Good luck with the chat wanker! Bye Ms. Welton, lovely to see you, you’re looking very lovely this evening.” The boys disappeared just as Beard returned.

“Do I want to know what that was about?”

“You absolutely do not Coach Beard, believe me.” Rebecca laughed.

"Good evening, Coach Lasso. I’m Jade. Nate has told me a lot about you.” The young woman smiled as Ted approached the front desk of A Taste of Athens.

“Only the really good stuff I hope, Carly Pope.”

“I don’t know who that is.” Jade replied dryly. Ted waved his hand,

“Well then, I guess Popular weren’t that popular over here.”

“Nathan said you’d be bringing your girlfriend this evening. Nice to meet you Ms Welton. Let me show you both to your table.”

“Oh, we’re not-”

“I’m not his-”

“We’re not together.”

“Just friends. Colleagues.”

“She’s the boss.” Ted jerked his thumb at Rebecca. Jade stared at the two of them, bemused for so long that the silence became excruciating.

“Right. Follow me.” She led them to a small candlelit table in the back of the restaurant. “Table for two people who aren’t a couple.” She gestured to the table, deadpan, “so you say.” she muttered quietly as they took their seats.

“That’s the second time in the last month that’s happened.” Ted shook his head, opening the menu.

“Hmm. Weird. They’re obviously projecting. Wine?”

“Yeah, how about that red we had last time?”

“Not sure I fancy red, I’m thinking of having the fish?”

“Oh yeah, definitely not red then. They have a Livio Felluga Pino?”

“Perfect, well spotted.” They talked happily about their current workload, the mood of the team and Beard’s latest sandwich swap contribution. Jade watched them share a starter, offer each other a taste of their mains, and swap desserts halfway through, all with a small shake of her head.

“Hey, did you want to join me and Hen at Harry Potter World when he visits in a couple of weeks? I know you’ve always wanted to go.”

“Oh Ted, I wouldn’t want to intrude-”

“Rebecca, c’mon. You wouldn’t be.”

“Only if you’re sure?”

“Of course.”

“And you’ll let me get Henry a wand?”

“I’m not allowed to say no, am I?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Fine. But we’re buying you dinner afterwards.”

“Deal.” Rebecca agreed with a smile.

“How are the happy couple doing?” Jade asked, clearing plates. Rebecca sniggered into her glass.

“Wonderful, thank you Jade, that was beautiful.”

“Thanks Jade. I’ll need to have a word with our Nate the Great though. Calling us a couple,” he scoffed, “absurd.”

“Crazy.” Rebecca laughed.

“Hmmm.” Jade frowned, “crazy.”

“Hey Michelle, Henry’s just getting changed, he’ll be out in a minute.”

“No rush, you guys having fun?”

“Oh yeah, he’s having a great time hanging out with the team. That coaching from Jamie is gonna go a long way when his team starts back in September.”

“Great news! How was Harry Potter world?”

“Pretty cool, Hen had a great time.”

“I hear you took Rebecca?”

“Did he tell you that?”

“Sent me a few pictures earlier. You look cute together, I’m really happy for you.”

“Thanks. Wait, no - Michelle, we’re not dating? What makes you think that we are?”

“Are you kidding? Ted, the pictures speak for themselves, hon! And like I said, you look really, really great together.”

“Can you send me the pictures please?”

“Sure, hang on a sec-” there’s a pause on the call while Michelle forwards the photos,

“Oh.” Ted breathed softly.

“You see?”

“But we’re not dating.”

“Really? Wow. Ok. I’m sorry If I made you feel uncomfortable.” They fell into silence, Ted still looking at the images on his phone.

“You really think that’s what it looks like?” He asked quietly.

“Ted, honey, we were together a long time. I know what you look like when you’re in love.”

“Hmm.”

“You didn’t know?”

“Guess not. Must have snuck up on me.”

“Love does that sometimes. And Rebecca?”

“What about her?”

“Do you think she knows? Or loves you too?”

“Honestly Michelle, I have no idea.”

“Maybe you should speak to her.” As Ted went to respond, Henry came bounding in to speak to his mom.

“Mom! We had the most amazing day! Rebecca is so cool, she got me a wand from the giftshop and she said we can go again when it’s all decorated for Christmas and she’s going to take me to see a show at the theatre!”

“That’s so cool sweetheart, I bet you and dad will have a lot of fun.” Ted zoned out of their conversation, lost in his own thoughts.

"Mr Lasso, I really need to insist that you sit down while we assess you. The nurses station is calling your emergency contact, and I'm going to arrange for some x-rays shortly."

"There's really no need, doc. I'm perfectly fine."

"He said you were annoying as fuck, he wasn't wrong."

"Sorry, who?"

"I'm Roy Kent's sister, Sara O'Sullivan. Right, says here your emergency contact is Rebecca Welton. We'll get her here as soon as possible and check over your results." Ted grumbled under his breath, "what happened?"

"We called off training because of the weather, it was too wet and slippery. I figured I'd meet Rebecca at a shareholder meeting, but I got taken out by a Deliveroo rider."

"Some of those riders need a new fucking career. And he really did a number on you, the ambulance was called because you were unconscious so I have to make sure you still have all your fucking facilties."

"Wow, you're definitely Royo's sister."

"I get that a lot." Ted smiled and acquiesced, holding up his hands in defeat.

"Alright, alright doc, you got me. I will await further instructions like a good patient."

"Where is he, I need to know right now - where is Theodore Lasso? Which room? Through here?" Rebecca Welton at a reception desk with zero information is a force to be reckoned with, Sara O'Sullivan had decided. She heard the commotion from three wards away.

"Ms Welton? Dr. O'Sullivan - Roy's sister?"

"Sara? It's so good to see you again. Thank god you're here, no one will tell me where Ted is, or what's going on? Was it a car? He never looks the right bloody way. I'll kill him myself if the car didn't succeed."

"He's fine, really. A bit of a bump on the head, but he's fine. I had no idea you were a couple - Roy always tells me the boring stuff like who took a knock in training - like I'm professionally bound to give a shit. I never get the good, juicy details like who Isaac is dating, or you!"

"But we're not dating?"

"He has you listed as his emergency contact?"

"I'm sure friends have friends listed all the time."

"Less often than you might think, actually. Unless you've known them like, the majority of your life, or you're family."

"Oh."

"Anyway, Ted's absolutely fine. Exactly as Roy described him so I take that as a good sign."

"Oh thank god. Could you imagine me having to break the news to his mother?"

"I'll take you through to him, no need to be alarming any mothers." Dr O'Sullivan led Rebecca through the corridors and into a monitoring ward where Ted sat up in bed doodling in his notebook.

"Boss! I'm sorry, I told 'em there was no need to bother you but the good doctor here is as stubborn as her brother."

"Absolute nonsense, Ted! You're bloody lucky Sara was working today," she bustled around him, openly looking him over for visible wounds.

"I'll leave you two to it while I just chase up the last of Ted's results." Sara gave Rebecca a knowing nod and left them to it.

"I really am sorry, Rebecca, I tried to tell them not to call you -"

"Ted, why the fuck am I your emergency contact?" She watched him intently. He had no answer for her. "That is like… wife level shit, Ted! I don't understand why you're in a foreign country, and your emergency contact is not the man you've known since you were kids? What if something serious had happened? What if you'd been really hurt and I didn't have the right information?"

"You know my blood type?"

"O negative."

"That ain't one of the common ones. But you know that it's mine. Distinguishable scars?"

"On your right knee and elbow."

"From?"

"Quad bike accident when you were 19."

"You know more about me than either you think you do, or you care to admit. I put you as my emergency contact, Rebecca, because you're my emergency everything." In the doorway, Dr O'Sullivan cleared her throat,

"Ted? Got all your results back clear. Everything is fine, no damage caused by the bike courier."

"A fucking bike courier, Ted?!" Rebecca rolled her eyes.

"Great, doc. So I can go?"

"You can. Watch out for headaches for the next few days, but other than that, you're free to go." She handed him the signed paperwork for discharge, "Lovely to see you again Ms Welton. Take care."

"Thanks Sara, see you soon." Rebecca picked up her bag and coat, "Ted, car's outside."

They sat in silence back to Richmond.

"Rebecca, darling! How lovely to see you!" Rebecca grimaced, her wine halfway to her mouth,

"Tish. Hi."

"How have you been? It's been so long since you went marching out of my house all red faced and cross with me!" Rebecca bit her tongue so hard she thought it might bleed.

"Well you were pedalling that bullshit, Tish. I'm not quite sure what you expected me to say or do?" Rebecca was about to go in again, but was saved by the affable American walking towards her.

"Hey, Becca, your mum said she needs you."

"Thanks Ted."

"Well bullshit or not dear, it looks like it all worked out in the end? What a delightful couple you are!"

"For godsake, why on earth do we keep getting this? Tish, Ted and I are not a couple."

"What on earth do you mean you’re not? Of course you are! The signs are all there - weren’t you listening to me Rebecca, dear?" The elder woman was off, "Of course you weren’t, you were too busy being dismissive of me. If you’d have heard me out then you would have known!"

"The bloody signs? Upside down and drenched? Thunder and lightning? What the fuck was all that supposed to mean?"

"The signs are never crystal clear, Rebecca darling."

"Stop calling me darling, and stop going on about stupid signs that than be manipulated so that even a child can misinterpret them! You were not clear, the signs were not there and I fully maintain that you are a fucking fraud." The woman's eyes widened as Rebecca grew more venomous.

"I… I.. I'll leave you to it."

"You do that, Tish. And if you come near me again with anymore of your bullshit you will fucking regret it." Tish fumbled her way away from Rebecca,

"Hey now, what was all that about?" Ted asked, his voice laced with concern.

"My mother needs me, does she not?"

"Yeah, yeah she does. I tell you what, you sort out Debs, and I'll be waiting here with more wine and you can tell me all about poor Tish."

"There's no such thing as poor Tish, Ted." Rebecca rolled her eyes but did as Ted asked.

By the time her mother's garden party was winding down, Rebecca was certain Ted would have gone home. He'd been long abandoned after all. Instead, as she entered the conservatory, she saw him sitting and talking with the somewhat unusual combination of Tish and the local vicar.

"I'm just leaving dear, no need to snap my head off again." Tish sighed, collecting her bag.

"I need to be off as well," the vicar smiled, "may I see you out, Tish?" They both said their goodbyes and left Rebecca and Ted alone. He handed her a large glass of wine.

"Spill, Faith Hill." Her anger dissipated, Rebecca sat down heavily.

"It's nothing, Ted. Just a wild misunderstanding between a skeptic and a fraudulent psychic."

"Well that's the best kind, please go on." She settled back in the chair alongside him,

"If you insist. I went to see Tish months ago, at my mother's insistence. The reading was… not successful. She made all sorts of ridiculous claims that have not and will not come true. It was a shambles, and I felt humiliated."

"What were the claims?"

"Umm, the first one was about a green matchbook. Which, at first, I took to mean the one from Sam's restaurant." She looked a little ashamed.

"You mean, this one?" Ted pulled it from his pocket, Rebecca stared,

"Yes," she whispered.

"And the next?"

"She said something about a shite in nining armour. Which didn't even make sense, and then I saw John Wingsnight and he used that extract phrase… but otherwise, total horseshit."

"You gotta look at these things a little differently, Becca. It's probably not literal or as clear cut - John used the phrase but he's in the past, Sam gave you the matchbook but he's in your past. Has anyone you know used the phrase correctly when talking to you?" Rebecca wracked her mind,

"Only you," she laughed a little, reminded of the darts game in the pub.

"What else?"

"Thunder and lightning and me."

"Mean anything?"

"Roy told me once that I shouldn't settle for fine, falling in love should feel like being struck by lightning."

"Wise man. Was there anything else?"

"That I would be upside-down and drenched, but safe."

"Well that one's easy, right? Amsterdam and your boat fella?"

"I suppose… but nothing happened?"

"And maybe that's the point? The things you have linked so far, you've linked to exes. Maybe that's the link, these are where you've come from, lightning is where they're leading to?" Rebecca took a long drink of wine and turned to Ted, incredulous.

"Ted, that's insane."

"Is it though? What else links all of those things?" She looked at him intently, her eyes drawn to where their hands were almost touching on the sofa cushions next to her, "go on." He urged.

"You?" She muttered, confused. He bit back a wide grin,

"I have a matchbox like you. I told you I was white knighting. I was with you in Amsterdam, trying to reach you - trying to reach out to you." He explained. "You saw the messages, in the end?" She nodded. "Becca, I know you're sick of everyone assuming that we're a couple. I don't know about you, but all it does is make me wonder why we're not. I'd very much like to kiss you?" She'd already moved closer to him, instinctively and turned to face him.

"Yes, Ted." She breathed, letting him cup her cheek and kiss her softly. She let out a little sigh and he fought the urge to chuckle at her realisation. He broke the kiss first, leaving her still leaning into him. Her eyes grew wide,

"What's up?"

"Lightning."

"Well I'm glad you think so, boss." She beamed at him and reached out to pull him into another kiss. As they sat with their drinks and their thoughts, the sounds from Deborah's garden party reaching the conservatory, she turned to Ted again.

"Feels like I might owe Tish an apology," she murmured. "There was one more prediction though."

"Hmm?" Ted queried, his hand running through her hair as she leaned back into his shoulder.

"She said I'd be a mother. But I can't, I even went to the damn doctor to check." He kissed her temple,

"There're a lot more ways to become a mother honey, did'ya ever think of that?" The tiny gasp let him know that she certainly hadn't.

"Have you got a plus one for the engagement party babes?" Keeley asked from the sofa, sparkly pen in hand.

"Yes please, love. If that's OK. Although, actually it won't make a difference to your numbers."

"You've lost me?"

"Ted will be my plus one."

"Oh that's cute, at least neither of you will be alone." Rebecca frowned, putting down her own notebook.

"Keeley, he's my plus one because he's my plus one?"

"Oh babe, I know. I know. You shouldn't feel like you're doing each other a favour. It's a lovely thing to do for a friend, really."

"You're not understanding me, Ted and I are together?" Keeley stared at her for what felt like an eternity, before breaking out into peals of laughter.

"Oh my god!" She giggled, deliriously, "That's the fucking funniest thing I've ever heard!" Rebecca sat back in her chair and let Keeley laugh and laugh.

"It's true."

"Nahhhh come on? You’ve both been denying it up and down Richmond for ages. We get it, we’ll stop teasing you about it, now you stop bullshitting me."

"I'm not bullshitting you, I promise."

"Yeah, OK babe. Whatevs." Keeley giggled again, waving Rebecca’s comments off. Rebecca rolled her eyes and smiled, leaving her best friend to her ignorance.

"Keeley doesn't believe we're together." She laughed as Ted sat on the bed watching her get ready for the party.

"Aww, poor girl has been burned before." He grinned, watching Rebecca pick out an underwear set.

"I know, but considering how long she's been angling for this-" She'd moved to stand in front of Ted as she spoke and he reached up to undo her towel and let it fall to the floor,

"This? This is what she's been angling for?" He asked, his voice low. Rebecca laughed softly,

"Yes, I think given half a chance this is exactly what Keeley Jones would like."

"She's a woman of exceptional taste." He murmured, looking her over as if he hadn't spent recent weeks learning every inch of her body.

They were predictably late to the party.

"Where have you two been?!"

"Sorry darling, got caught up. You look gorgeous."

"Aww thanks babe, you too. Wow, you look like you've been royally railed though!" Keeley beamed, hugging them both. As she pulled away, she saw the eyebrow wiggle Ted gave Rebecca and froze. "No!"

"I did tell you."

"No!"

"Hate to ruin your chances, Keels." Ted grinned apologetically.

"Who said anything about that?" Rebecca teased, "If I were to ever dip into the lady pool, it would definitely be with Keeley." Keeley watched the conversion back and forth in shock.

"Are you two for real right now?"

"Sure are, Pablo Escobar"

"Really?"

"Really really." The squeal echoed through the venue.

"Oh my godddddd! Roy, Roy babe over here! Ted and Rebecca are together. Like, together together!"

"Fucksake, I just lost 50 quid to Beard."

"I've lost 40 to Bumbercatch."

"100 to Tartt."

"50 to Will."

"I lost to Will too."

"And me."

"And me!"

"I just lost 250 to Higgins." Will grumbled, handing over his accumulated cash.

FIN

#ted lasso #ted lasso fanfiction #ted lasso fic #tedbecca #ted and rebecca #ted x rebecca #rebecca x ted #rebecca welton #tedbecca prompt party

26 notes · View notes